I've Been Using This Cult-Favorite Money-Saving App for Four Weeks — Here's What I Think — Shopping

With all the reporting we do on couponing and saving money on groceries, it seemed remiss not to talk about one of the most popular money-saving apps: Ibotta. The internet abounds with stories of users saving and earning back hundreds of dollars using the app, so I had to check it out.

First, the basic premise: The app offers savings through coupons — percentages off and cash back on various purchases. To get these incentives, you basically give out some market research: You either fill out a short survey, scan a receipt to send your shopping data, or link loyalty cards. While your personal data is kept confidential, the companies that use Ibotta for research aggregate all this data to learn about shopping priorities and trends. And in the meantime, you get rewarded for being their virtual guinea pig, in actual dollars that are sent seamlessly to your Paypal account (or wherever you choose).

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